Often times when we hear people talk about a paralegal, they refer to Rachel Zane from Suits. Although Rachel is an amazing paralegal, what she does differs than what you see a paralegal in Ontario doing. So what is a paralegal in Ontario you ask?
Paralegals in Ontario are trained and educated individuals that offer legal services to the public. These services could be offered in Small Claims Court, Traffic Court, Tribunals such as Landlord and Tenant Board matters and some minor criminal matters. Often times in these areas of law, you are able to get professional legal representation from a paralegal for a lower cost than what you would pay a lawyer to represent you. This allows more access to justice for a broader group of people in the communities we serve.
In 2008 the Law Society of Ontario (LSO (formerly the LSUC -Law Society of Upper Canada)) started to regulate paralegals in the same way as lawyers. This ensures they are held to the highest professional standards. They are required to be licensed, accredited, insured and are required to abide by a professional code of conduct.
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